Poll Finds Obama's Run Isn't Closing Divide on Race  —  Americans are sharply divided by race heading into the first election in which an African-American will be a major-party presidential nominee, with blacks and whites holding vastly different views of Senator Barack Obama …

The Comedy Stylings of Shecky McCain  —  I made the mistake of watching Verdict yesterday where they had a John McCain sycophant go on and on about how McCain stuck by his principles when he bucked his party on immigration.  He and the host failed to note that he was lining up with the president …

Obama says New Yorker insulted Muslim Americans … CHICAGO (AP) - Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday that the New Yorker magazine's satirical cover depicting him and his wife as flag-burning, fist-bumping radicals doesn't bother him but that it was an insult to Muslim Americans.

The Iron Timetable  —  BARACK OBAMA yesterday accused President Bush and Sen. John McCain of rigidity on Iraq: “They said we couldn't leave when violence was up, they say we can't leave when violence is down.”  Mr. Obama then confirmed his own foolish consistency.

Gates Warns of Militarized Policy  —  Defense Secretary Stresses Civilian Aspects of U.S. Engagement  —  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned yesterday against the risk of a “creeping militarization” of U.S. foreign policy, saying the State Department should lead U.S. engagement with other countries …

So Popular and So Spineless  —  Much ink has been spilled lately decrying the decline in American popularity around the world under President Bush.  Polls tell us how China is now more popular in Asia than America and how few Europeans say they identify with the United States.

NYT poll: Majority now believes Obama says what he thinks people want to hear  —  From tonight's monster 33-page omnibus poll, the “new politics” halo is officially off.  Note the trend:  —  McCain does almost as badly at 46/49 but then McCain's not supposed to be a “Lightworker.”

Congressional Approval Hits Record-Low 14%  —  Democrats less positive than Republicans about Congress  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Congress' job approval rating has dropped five percentage points over the past month, from 19% in June to 14% in July, making the current reading the lowest congressional …

May We Mock, Barack?  —  When I interviewed Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for Rolling Stone a couple years ago, I wondered what Barack Obama would mean for them.  —  “It seems like a President Obama would be harder to make fun of than these guys,” I said.  —  “Are you kidding me?”  Stewart scoffed.

Most Offensive Quote of the Day  —  If we had a “Most Offensive Quote of the Day” every day, Joe Biden would probably come to own the prize.  But even by the senator's lofty standards of chronic obtuseness, he outdid himself this afternoon: … I know Democrats get a certain tingling …

Breaking: Eight Supers Switching to Hillary  —  Big news folks - it looks like our efforts in contacting those Superdelegates are starting to pay off, so keep on writing to them (ok, maybe Donna B's a waste of time).  There are unconfirmed reports, based on phone banking efforts to reach out to Super Ds …

Wachovia Faces Shallow Reserves but Says It Is Raising More Capital  —  Wachovia's stock fell to a 17-year low yesterday after an analyst warned that the commercial bank, which holds more deposits than any other in the Washington region, will face two years of losses arising from the credit crisis …

Court Backs Bush on Military Detentions  —  President Bush has the legal power to order the indefinite military detentions of civilians captured in the United States, the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., ruled on Tuesday in a fractured 5-to-4 decision.

Phil Gramm's Porn Stash  —  Phil Gramm's recent disparaging of “a nation of whiners” complaining about a “mental recession” did more than offend the sensibilities of economically struggling Americans.  His gaffe also served as a reminder that McCain had appointed one of the most reactionary …

The New Reality in Iraq  —  All of the most important objectives of the surge have been accomplished in Iraq.  The sectarian civil war is ended; al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) has been dealt a devastating blow; and the Sadrist militia and other Iranian-backed militant groups have been disrupted.

New Report Shows Saudi Ministry Textbooks Still Teach Extreme Intolerance  —  WASHINGTON, July 15, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — State Department-Negotiated Deadline for Reform Nears  —  Today the Center for Religious Freedom of the Hudson Institute released a 90-page report …